Refrigerator.



PATENTED MAR. 6, 1906.

S. DI VECCHIO. REPRIGERATOR. APPLICATION FILED we. 11. 1904.

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28 Lugwww W/ rfv 55555 STEFANO DI VECCHIO, OF SAN FRANCISCO,ACALIFORNIA.

REFRIGERATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 6, 1 906.

Application filed August l1, 1904. Seria] No. 220,425.

-To all '1r/"1,0m it 11i/(ty concern.-

Be it known that I, STEFANO'DI VECCHIO, a citizen of the United Statesof America, and a resident of the city and county of San Francisco,State of California, have invented a new and useful Refrigerator, ofwhich the following is a specification, reference being had it must bedry as well, and since the air which A has been in Contact '.vith themelting ice is more or less saturated with moisture means must bedevised for preventing this dampness from entering the storage-chamber,and if this is not accomplished the utility of the refrigerator isgreatly impaired. For instance, meats when placed in a room of lowtemperature, but in which there is dampness, soon become soft andsticky, while in a room with the air dry even though at a highertemperature, they remain firn and smooth and retain their natural color.[n attempting to produce this dr)T cold so essential to the successfuloperation of a refrigerator many devices have been employed; but so faras I am aware none has as yet been provided that accomplished thedesired end notwithstanding the usr of elaborate systems of ilues toforce the circulation of the air, and these iiues were expensive andoccu ied much valuable space which if employe for storage purposes wouldhave greatly enhanced the utility of the refrigerator.

In this improved refrigerator cold is produced by either ice or a systemof refrigerating-pipes alone, as formerly, or both may be used together.These advantages, combined with that of a special sweat-proofdrainingpan, provide for all of the points requisite to insuresuccessful refrigeration, and it is believed that the result is the mostperfect., practical, produced.

In the ceoznpanying drawings. Figui-e 1 is and economical refrigeratoryet tioned with the base and most of the bottom section broken away.Fig. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional View of part of the drainingpan`and the rack upon which the ice rests. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectionof the ice box or chest with a part of the systemof refrigerating-pipesattached thereto. FigV lA is a diagrammatic perspective view of thecomplete refrigerator. Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view of thewall of the refrigerator, showing agroove used in joining sectionsplaced one upon the other. Fi 6 is a perspective view of one corner of te refrigerator, showing the manner in which tlie sections forming it aresecured together and exposing the manner of construction of theinsulated walls'. Fig. 7 is a broken perspec. tive view of the frame ofthe draining-pan- F ig. 8 is a sectional wiew of part of the base andthe side resting upon it, showing details of construction.

This style of refrigerator can be built of any desired dimensions, fromeighi feet in height upward; but to avr-id obscurity' *he refrigeratorherein described will be consideren? as twelve feet in height and twelvefeet in length, with a breadth of six Feet, as whatever may be said ofthis size will apply equally to those of different dimensions.

For convenience in shipping and erection the walls are constructed insections, as A B C, usually four feel' wide and of the same length asthe refrigerxtor itself. Each section com rises an inner wall 1 and adouble outer Wa l 2, between the layers of which is secured a thicknessof specially-prepared paper 3, like the so-called paraffinaper, which isimperviable both as regar( s moisture and heat. These walls are securedto o posite sides of posts 4 and scantlin'gs 5, p aced at suitableintervals. To the inner side of the exterior wall 2 are nailed furringstrips or slats 6, to which is tacked a thickn ss of heavy absorbent er7 known as w 1 operate t 0..r tif.l. all

moisture coming in contact withuitwfrom `Dbre-tween the slats and alsofor a continuous air-space, as-E, between the absorbent paper and theinner wall. The space E is made twice the width of the space D,preferably. All the boards used in the two layers of the double outerwall and in the inner wall are tongued and grooved, making as close afit as possible. This construction of' the a view of the refrigeratorvertically cross-see- IGO lIO

` at the corners.

walls makes complete insulation a fact, for materials are used which arewaterproof and throu h which heat cannot be transmitted, and fixe costof manufactureis less than though mineral wool or other expensivematerials were used.

The ends of sections combining to form the corners of the refrigeratorare built to interlock in order that the transmission of heat andmoisture, which is prevented by the construction of the walls, shall notbe permitted To illustrate the manner of interlocking, let us refer toFig. 6 and supposethe boards forming the outer and inner walls to beinch boards. The outside board of the double outer wall of one of theinterlocking sections will then be extended about two inches past itsend post and the inner board of the same wall one inch past the post. Inthe other interlocking section the outside board of the double outerwall will be located beyond its own post and extended past the post ofthe first section a distance of about one inch, and the inner boardthereof will be cut flush with the post of the first section. This willallow the four boards in the outer walls of the two sections to meet atright angles and abut squarely one against another, the inside boardsresting also u on contiguous sides of the post of the st section, whichwill be the corner-post, as shown. The inner Wall of the first sectionis run in between the two posts and against the inside board of thedouble outer wall of the second section, and the inner wall of thesecond section is cut flush with its post and terminates in the rear ofthe inner wall of the first section, upon which it bears. An even corneris thus produced whichwhen its several parts are fastened together bymeans of lag-screws 8, as illustrated, is as nearly air and water tightas ossible and at the same time very firm.

n order to insure a snug fit of the sections placed one u on another,the top ends of the outside boar s of the sections are extended asuitable distance-say four inches-and their lower ends drawn up asimilar distance, thus providing something u on which the bottom ends ofthe inner boar s of the superimposed sections may abut and be heldfirmly in place. They are secured more firmly together by means of awooden bar 9, about seven-eighths of an inch-square, fitted into grooves10 in the scantlings 5 of the abutting sections, which bar when insertedin its grooves acts as a lock, preventing any slipping,vFi s. 1 and 5.

It is usual to construct tis style of refrigerator upon a base of itsown, which, as shown in Fig. 8, may be formed b securing joists, as 11,to the floor 12 of the uilding where it is to be erected and nailing tothe u per side of the joists a floor 13 of tongued an grooved or closelyjoined boards. The lowermost sections A of therefrigerator rest upon thefloor 13 and are kept in place by sills, as 14,

provided around the same, the outside boards of each section bearingupontheir respective sill and the inner boards directly upon the floorwithin the sill; but this base is not necessary, since cold air descendsand heated air ascends, and the one would not escape from nor the otherbe admitted into the'storagechamber through the iioor, and the refrierator may consequently with perfect sa ety be constructed immediatelyupon the floor of the building.

The ceiling is conveniently constructed in sections F G, Fig. 1, in thesame manner and of the same materials as the Walls, and the sections maybe made to interlock with those of the walls and be screwed to them in amanner similar to that in which the corners are formed. For the sake ofappearance a cornice 15 is secured around the top of the refrigerator,and strips 16, supporting it, are nailed to the sides near the corners.

The boards forming the outside ofthe refrigerator may be groovedhalf-way between' their edges in order to present a neater appearance,and they are so shown in the drawings hereto attached, Fig. 4. The woodused in constructing this refrigerator is usually pine; but other woodsmay be used.

In the front wall of the refrigerator two doors are provided--a largeone, H, opening into the storage-chamber and a smaller one, I, o eninginto the ice-chamber to admit the ice. The doors are built of materialsthe same as those of which the walls are constructed and fit into bevelor lock j ambs. Windows J may be provided, one on each side of the lowerdoor or in the side walls or at any point desired, and three panes ofglass are used in each case, thus providing two dead-air spaces betweenthem and preventing the transmission of heat or the escape of cold.

The interior of this refrigerator is divided into two rooms or chambersK L, one above the other,which are separated bya rack upon which the icerests. The upper chamber is about half as large as the llower and isdevoted exclusively to the cooling apparatus, if any be used, and theice. The rack upon which the ice rests forms the iioor of the uperchamber and is constructed by placing eams 17 transversely of therefrigerator about a foot apart and laying slats 18 across them atintervals of a few inches, leaving, however, a space of about a footbetween the side wall of the refrigerator and the first Slat on eachside. The cross-beams rest upon and are secured to sills 19, nailed orscrewed to the side walls of the refrigerator and runnin the entire lenth of the same. The slats are oose, though firmly set in notches ordepressions 20, cut in thesurfaces of the beams. Upon this rack isplaced an uncovered and bottomless wooden ice box or chest 21,- which ismade of such a height as to inclose the ice completely and at the sametime permit the circulation of air above it, the ice being admittedthrough the door I in the end wall of the refrigerator and through acorresponding opening in the front end of the box 21. On the inside ofthis box is secured a U-shaped system of refrigerating-pipes 22, thefeed-pipe 23 of which connects with the coldgenerating machinery on theoutside (not shown) and is passed over the top of the box and throughthe side wall of the refrigerator near the top and rear. An air-space ofnot less than six inches is left between the ice-box and the walls ofthe refrigerator all around, so that the air passing up between will becooled by coming in contact with the ice and the moisture will becondensed before descending into the lower chamber of the refrigerator,which is the storage-room. The advantage in using a system ofrefrigeratingpipes lies in the fact that much less ice is consumed thanis necessary when ice alone is used, and the refrigerator is thereforeso constructed that such a system may be supplied at any time it maybecome desirable tothe owner without necessitating any change in therefrigerator, except the cutting of a hole in one of its side wallsthrough which to run the feed-pipe, and as the pipes will be placedaround the inside of the ice-box no space will be taken which waspreviously in use for any purpose.

Directly under the rack 17 1S is placed the draining-pan, which is aslong as the interior of the refrigerator and but little wider than theice-box 21 above it and is supported by wooden brackets 24, secured tothe end walls of the refrigerator, Figs. 1, 2, and 4. The pan proper ismade of zinc, tin, or other suitable metal (designated by M) and isfitted over a specially-constructed frame, which is conveniently builtin three sections N O P, and thus permits the same facility in shippingand handling this part as is characteristic of the other parts of therefrigerator. The sections N and O are placed side by side a shortdistance one from the other and are interconnected on their adjacentsides by the section P, which forms an overhanging bridge-piece orarched roof above them and constitutes a centrally-raised portion of thcpan, leaving a central air-space Q thereunder between the two sections Nand O. The air-space Q may be closed on the under side for the sake ofimproving the general appearance of the interior of the refrigerator bymeans of boards 25, placed over the opening and secured to the bottom ofthe sections N and O, as shown. The two sections N and O consist each ofa box-like structure, having a bottoni 26, sides 27, and ends 2S. On thebottom 26 just Within the sides 27 are secured two longitudinal bars 29,and to these is tacked a sheet of the same kind of absorbent paper 7 asis used in the construction of the walls of the refrigerator, therebyforming an air-chamber R between the bottom and the absorbent paper ineach outer section of the frame of the draining-pan. (See Fig. 7 inaddition to the figures above referred to.) A row of ventilating-holes30 are bored in the sides 27 and adjoining bars 29 of each section N Oto allow free circulation of the ambient air in these chambers R. Cleats31, running transversely, are nailed over the sheet of absorbent paper 7and to the bars 29 at a suitable distance apart in each section N O, andupon them and over the edges of each section, which are raised abovethem, is set the metallic lining or sheeting M. The metal M of thepan,1t will be observed, is insulated from the ab# sorbent paper by thecleats 31. The middle section or centrally-raised portion P, that spansand covers the air-space Q, is similar in construction to the sections NO, over the inner sides of which it extends and upon which it rests,except that it is on a smaller scale and convexo-concave transverselywith the convex side uppermost. It comprises a top sheet of metal M,longitudinal bars 32, to the upper sides of which this sheet M issecured, a sheet of absorbent paper 7, tacked to ,the under sides ofthese bars, and cleats33, placed under and across the absorbent paperand also secured to the under sides of the bars 32. The outer sections NO are inclined inwardly and downwardly toward each other, as best seenin Figs. 1 and 2, in order that their inner sides, over which the sidesof the convex part P project, Inay be the lowest and shall accordinglycause the corresponding angular bends or corners of the metal lining Mto be proportionately lowered, thereby forming two gutters, as at S T,wherein will be collected all the water that may drip from the meltingice above, whether it is shed by the central arched part of the pan orruns down from the raised sides lof the pan, so that no water will besufered to spread or allowed to stand for any appreciable length of timeover a larger surface than is expedient to allow. The pan as a whole isgiven a rearward trend or dip of about one inch in five feet, that thewater may be led inwardly and immediately carried to the rear and out ofthe refrigerator through a waste-pipe, as 34. This pipe is provided witha suitable trap 35 and has two branches 36 and 37, passing up,respectively, through the outer sections N O and opening into the pan oneach side of its centrally-raised portion, Where the gutters S T areformed. The discharge end of the pipe 34 runs through the floor of therefrigerator and is connected with the sewer or other convenient placefor depositing the water. a tion of this pan is simple and inexpensive,1t is nevertheless of extreme importance, since by its agency, aided bythe complete insulation of the walls of the refrigerator, the air in thestorage-chamber is kept uniformly dry,

Though the construc-.

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as well as at a low temperature, and the substances placed in thestorage-chamber are kept better and longer than would be possiblewithout the pan.

The lower chamberLis used exclusively for storage pur oses, and it maybe fitted with rows of hoo s, shelves, drawers, or any other appliancesthe owner may deem suitable, and the arrangement thereof may beconveniently changed at any time. Also the spaces between thedraining-pan and the side walls of the refrigerator permit the postssupporting the interior fittings to extend above and lean against eitherthe walls or the pan, thereby affording a means for hanging sides ofbeef or other meats in rows one above another without allowing them totouch orrest against each other, and much more can be stored in thisrefrigerator than in any other of the same size.

As already stated, this style of refrigerator may be built of anydesired dimensions and will prove as useful and well adapted for use inhotels, saloons, restaurants, grocerystores, clubs, public institutions,and families as in butcher-shops and general markets.

In this refrigerator it is unnecessary to force the circulation of airin order to secure dryness in the storage-chamber, since thedraining-pan operates to take up and lead away not only the drippingsoccasioned by the melting of the ice, but also the moisture which iscondensed from the air in the upper chamber, and as a consequenceelaborate systems of flues or other cumbersome appliances 3 5 areunnecessary and much expense and valuable space are saved. By the mannerof insulating the walls another most desirable result is attained, theminimum consumption of ice, and consequently the minimum is reached inoost of refrigeration.

The'many great advantages of this invention are apparent,and hence willnot be dilated upon, nor will the modifications which may obviously bemade in the several parts of the invention be alluded to; but it isintended that all modifications as to form or structure shall be fullycovered by the subjoined claim.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates, is-

A refrigerator including a storage-chamber and an ice-chamber above it,an ice-supporte ing rack separating said chambers one from the other,and a draining-pan under said rack, said pan comprising three coactingsections having each a frame, a sheet of insulated absorbent papertherein, a metallic lining insulated from said sheet, means for causinga circulation of air under; the absorbent paper, 'a''d'alis'cliag'iiltoa dr-pe with asitable trap and connections.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

STEFANO DI VECCHIO.

Witnesses:

A. H. STE. MAME, GEO. F. CAVALLI.

